44 " DRIVER'S " GASTRONOMIC IDEAS. 



pounds, and would have made it pay well if lie had been let 

 alone ; but the Company heard of it, and sent north at once 

 to tell the Indians that if they would not go near him or sell 

 him anything, they would give away as presents an outfit equal 

 to his; and this they did poor "Driver" selling nothing and 

 being nearly starved. 



I thought I would give him a really good dinner ; so having 

 some buffalo-hump ribs, I roasted them myself, and expected 

 to hear him enthusiastic in their praise ; but no, not a word 

 did he say; so I asked him what he thought of the meat, 

 which was as tender as a well-kept chicken, on which he said 

 that he preferred something that he could get hold of, which 

 he could not do with what he had just eaten. 



He left me, after remaining two days, inviting me to visit 

 him at his camp on Red Deer River ; but I did not do 

 so, though his account of the quantity of game there was 

 most tempting. 



